Local News

Study Reports Numerous Violations at Nuke Plants

CHICAGO (AP) - A study determined that six Illinois nuclear power plants logged hundreds of safety violations from 2000 through 2012, most of them considered low-level.

The Government Accounting Office report, based on Nuclear Regulatory Commission figures, shows the number safety violations at nuclear plants across the country vary dramatically from region to region.

Illinois plants, with 11 reactors, had 1,118 violations, 17 of them considered high-level. By contrast, there were 1,885 mostly low-level violations in the Southeast region, home to 33 reactors. The report obtained by The Associated Press says the differences suggest regulators interpret rules and guidelines differently among regions.

Exelon spokeswoman Krista Lopykinski said she wasn't familiar with the report. However, she noted the utility's plants have received good marks from the NRC "in terms of ability to operate safely."